Houston Ballet Presents Ben Stevenson’s Iconic Rendition of The Sleeping Beauty from March 13-23, 2025

Houston Ballet invites audiences to an enchanting journey with its revival of The Sleeping Beauty from March 13-23, 2025 at The Wortham Center.

Choreographed by Artistic Director Emeritus Ben Stevenson O.B.E. and set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, this timeless masterpiece captures the elegance, grandeur, and magic that have cemented its place in ballet history.

The Sleeping Beauty, widely celebrated as a pinnacle of classical ballet, unfolds the captivating French fairytale of Princess Aurora, whose fate is shaped by the forces of good and evil. The malevolent Carabosse curses Aurora, while the benevolent Lilac Fairy softens the blow with a spell that will let her awaken after a century-long slumber with the kiss of true love.

In 1967, Stevenson launched his choreographic career with his staging of The Sleeping Beauty for the English National Ballet in London, featuring the legendary Margot Fonteyn as Aurora. This highly acclaimed debut paved the way for future productions, and in 1990, his celebrated version graced Houston Ballet’s stage at the Wortham Theater Center, complete with stunning sets and costumes by the late Desmond Heeley, inspired by Peter Farmer’s original concepts.

“Since its debut in 1990, Houston Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty has remained a flagship work for the company and is recognized as a supreme achievement of classical ballet,” said Stanton Welch AM, Artistic Director at Houston Ballet. “Stevenson’s choreography, paired with Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, sets the stage for our dancers to bring Aurora’s magical tale to life.”

Audiences will marvel at the intricate choreography inspired by Marius Petipa’s 19th-century version and Stevenson’s deep reverence for the classics. This includes his meticulous consultation of Nicholas Sergeyev’s notations of the Mariinsky Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty productions, ensuring authenticity in every pirouette and pose.

Schedule:   7:30 p.m. on March 13-15, 21-22, 2025; 1:30 p.m. on March 15 and 22, 2025; and 2 p.m. on March 16 and 23, 2025.

Tickets: Visit www.houstonballet.org.

Photos courtesy of The Houston Ballet